Archives: Aurealis Interviews

    Trudi Canavan was Art Director for Aurealis magazine for about nine years before she quit to write full-time after the success of her first book The Magicians Guild. Since then Trudi hasn't looked back. She has gained critical acclaim for her fantasy series - The Black Magician and The Age of Five. Her latest book Last of the Wilds is out now with HarperCollins (http://www.harpercollins.com.au/global_scripts/product_catalog/book_xml.asp?isbn=0732278708)
Recently, Orbit UK announced it had signed Trudi to a world-wide four book deal to write a sequel trilogy and a stand-alone prequel to The Black Magician Trilogy. With this deal, suggested to be a seven figure sum, Trudi has joined the big names of Australian Fantasy and Science Fiction writers. It is further evidence that Australian speculative fiction authors are seen by overseas publishers as equal in quality to any other writers. And, forgive us for blowing our trumpet, Aurealis has shown yet again that it is the premier source for breaking Australian talent on to the world scene. Who could forget that Trudi won the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Short Story in 1999 for "Whispers of the Mist Children", featured in Aurealis #23 (http://www.aurealis.com.au/issues.php).

With Last of the Wilds, book two in the Age of Five series, you continue the development of magic and its wide use (and of course misunderstanding) within your world. It is clear magic is important not only to the story but to you. What is it about the use of magic you find so appealing?

TRUDI:
It’s the ultimate ‘what if?” to me. For as long as I can remember it was the magic in stories that excited me most. Mythical beasties or races never interested me as much. From fairy tales to Star Wars, myths to modern fantasy, the idea that a person could do something with their mind and will was fascinating to me. The first time I read the scene in Magician, by Raymond Feist, where Milamber loses his temper in the ‘games’ stadium I felt the most amazing thrill. I believe science fiction readers get this from ideas. I suppose mystery readers get it from working out or finding out the answer to the mystery.

As a writer who often plays with dual personalities in fiction I was quite pleased to read the difficulties encountered with the character of Mirar/Leiard. I understand the condition from the point of mental illness but what enabled you to create such a character and carry it off so neatly?

TRUDI:
Did I? Well that’s a relief! I don’t know exactly how I did it. It’s an intuitive process. I become immersed in the character to the point I can hear their thoughts. Maybe I was just translating that experience to a character – having him hear the thoughts of another character in his mind just as I do. And I loved the idea that a person could have an argument with themselves, and lose it.

I like the way in which you write your stories and on more than one occasion have wondered how you would go writing a space type series (Epic Science Fiction). Would this be a consideration if the offer ever came, or are you deeply set with the Fantasy genre?

TRUDI:
The book length stories that come to me are always set within a fantasy scenario. I do have a few science fiction short story ideas that I intend to write eventually. If I was to write a novel in a different genre it would probably be horror. In fact, I have been sitting on a YA horror novel idea for a few years now, waiting for that mythical bit of free time I keep deluding myself will eventually come.

Are there other worlds you wish to explore in the future? And do you think you could maybe (on my knees here) give the readers here a little snippet of what may come?

TRUDI:
While the Black Magician Trilogy was doing the round of publishers I took the good advice of other writers and wrote another book. It’s called Angel of Storms and is a multiple world scenario. That is, the characters use magic to move from world to world easier than they might travel from country to country. At the moment my plan is to rewrite it as part of a series when the prequel and sequel to the Black Magician Trilogy are finished.

Now to the unusual question I asked creative writers and authors. A very tall man has just given you a handful of Bubba Bulbs for your hand in union and has promised to let you out of your high tower at least once every full moon ... A big deal in the Noton YA Life culture. What would you response be, given the high regard your people give you? (Told you it was odd)

TRUDI:
Tell him I don’t believe in marriage, but see if I can negotiate a good trade deal on those Bubba Bulbs as I think they’ll be a real hit in the gardening scene next autumn.

Read more about Trudi Canavan at:
http://www.harpercollins.com.au/global_scripts/product_catalog/author_xml.asp?authorid=AUS_0017862
http://www.trudicanavan.com/index.php